Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells
In this work, novel microporous layers (MPLs) were developed based on fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), as a hydrophobic agent, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), as a wettability modulator and rheology controller for the inks, which were deposited onto pre-hydrophobized macroporous gas diffusion...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Physchem |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7167/3/1/7 |
| _version_ | 1797609452801622016 |
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| author | Saverio Latorrata Marco Mariani Andrea Basso Peressut Riccardo Balzarotti Giovanni Dotelli |
| author_facet | Saverio Latorrata Marco Mariani Andrea Basso Peressut Riccardo Balzarotti Giovanni Dotelli |
| author_sort | Saverio Latorrata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, novel microporous layers (MPLs) were developed based on fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), as a hydrophobic agent, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), as a wettability modulator and rheology controller for the inks, which were deposited onto pre-hydrophobized macroporous gas diffusion layers (GDLs). Higher CMC amounts led to higher dynamic viscosities of the inks, which induced the formation of a more compact and less cracked MPL surface. Different concentrations of CMC were tested and the experimental measurements showed a threshold limit pointing out an optimal composition that positively affected the electrochemical performances at medium-low relative humidity (RH), which is important to mitigate the need of saturating inlet gases. Durability of the best performing samples was assessed by means of an ad hoc developed accelerated stress test (AST) and compared to one of the conventional FEP-based GDMs. It was found that a lower decrement of both the output power density and the overall cell efficiency can be obtained upon the ASTs with the novel samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:01:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf029970338845da9ba80434b577c2f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-7167 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:01:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physchem |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf029970338845da9ba80434b577c2f52023-11-17T13:20:00ZengMDPI AGPhyschem2673-71672023-01-0131789110.3390/physchem3010007Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel CellsSaverio Latorrata0Marco Mariani1Andrea Basso Peressut2Riccardo Balzarotti3Giovanni Dotelli4Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa 1, 20156 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, ItalyMechanical Engineering and Materials Technology Institute (MEMTi), University of Applied Sciences (SUPSI-DTI), Via la Santa 1, 6962 Lugano, SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, ItalyIn this work, novel microporous layers (MPLs) were developed based on fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), as a hydrophobic agent, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), as a wettability modulator and rheology controller for the inks, which were deposited onto pre-hydrophobized macroporous gas diffusion layers (GDLs). Higher CMC amounts led to higher dynamic viscosities of the inks, which induced the formation of a more compact and less cracked MPL surface. Different concentrations of CMC were tested and the experimental measurements showed a threshold limit pointing out an optimal composition that positively affected the electrochemical performances at medium-low relative humidity (RH), which is important to mitigate the need of saturating inlet gases. Durability of the best performing samples was assessed by means of an ad hoc developed accelerated stress test (AST) and compared to one of the conventional FEP-based GDMs. It was found that a lower decrement of both the output power density and the overall cell efficiency can be obtained upon the ASTs with the novel samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7167/3/1/7PEM fuel cellsgas diffusion layerMPLcoatinghydrophobicitydurability |
| spellingShingle | Saverio Latorrata Marco Mariani Andrea Basso Peressut Riccardo Balzarotti Giovanni Dotelli Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells Physchem PEM fuel cells gas diffusion layer MPL coating hydrophobicity durability |
| title | Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells |
| title_full | Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells |
| title_fullStr | Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells |
| title_short | Non-Conventional Hybrid Microporous Layers for Enhanced Performance and Durability of PEM Fuel Cells |
| title_sort | non conventional hybrid microporous layers for enhanced performance and durability of pem fuel cells |
| topic | PEM fuel cells gas diffusion layer MPL coating hydrophobicity durability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7167/3/1/7 |
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